The number of times people have left Addenbrooke’s A&E without treatment has more than doubled in a year, according to new figures.

In September, 360 attendances at Cambridge University Hospitals were recorded as having left the emergency department before being seen for treatment, 2.8 per cent of all 12,771 attendances.

The hospital said for those with minor injury or illness there could be a number of reasons why people leave without treatment such as they not happy with waiting a long time, it is not an urgent condition or perhaps they feel better.

According to the figures from NHS Digital, the number leaving before treatment is 154 per cent higher than the 142 attendances recorded as having left A&E before being seen for treatment in September 2015.

Across England, 3.2 per cent of attendances at A&E departments were recorded as having left A&E before being seen for treatment, a total of 53,000 attendances.

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This was a quarter higher than the 42,461 recorded in September 2015, when 2.7 per cent of attendances left before treatment, and 49 per cent higher than in 2013, when the number was 35,604, 2.5 per cent of attendances

A Cambridge University Hospitals spokesman said: “The trust has seen a year-on-year increase in demand on our A&E department.

“As we prioritise treating the sickest first, those with non-urgent conditions often have to wait longer and a number leave before receiving treatment.

“We are urging the public to choose the right service first time and, if it isn’t an emergency, use alternatives, such as GPs, pharmacies, NHS 111 and minor injury units.

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“Details of alternative treatment and advice for local patients can be found via the Cambridgeshire Choose Well app or being visiting http://www.cambsandpeterboroughchoosewell.co.uk/”.

According to the data, the median average time to initial assessment for attendances brought to A&E by ambulance was six minutes in September, with 95 per cent of patients being assessed within 2 hours 25 minutes.

For all patients receiving treatment, the median average time to treatment was 59 minutes with 95 per cent of patients receiving treatment within 3 hours 19 minutes.

The median average total time in A&E for all patients was 2 hours 25 minutes, with 95 per cent of patients departing A&E within 6 hours 30 minutes of arrival, according to the figures.